The Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), on June 21, 2006 published a notice in the Official Daily (Diario Oficial de
la Federaci?n) of not just national but too international interest and importance. Notice that a law that better manages Mexico?s Gulf of California
(Sea of Cortez) and its contiguous coastal areas is to go into effect, plus a call for comments on the draft proposals ? a public opportunity that
will end 60 days from the publication date.
The ?Notification of the Proposal of the Marine Ecological Ordinance of the Gulf of California? refers to a 168-page Spanish language document that is
now available for review and comment, part of a Mexican government public consultation mechanism. A link to the draft document can be found on the
SEMARNAT Internet site, plus print copies are available at sites listed in the published notice.
The ?Proposal of the Marine Ecological Ordinance of the Gulf of California,? hereafter referred to as the Proposal, is divided first into sections
that in turn are subdivided and indexed to deal with 15 Coastal Management Units (UGC), and seven Oceanic Management Units. The coastal and land
zones can be described as starting at Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur; running up the Gulf of California to its northernmost Baja California-
Sonora terminus; and back down mainland Mexico to Punta Mita, Nayarit, which is just northwest of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. And then the southern
demarcation is an oceanic line drawn straight between Punta Mita and Cabo San Lucas.
The Oceanic Management Units, or UGOs, include the islands and everything else within the greater marine limits.
Environmental protection and natural history interests heavily influenced the draft Proposal it would seem, especially when hearing participant and
working group member lists are also taken into consideration. To the degree that developers, landowners, tourism interests, recreation and sports
enthusiasts, and some entrepreneurial sectors seem to have gotten the short end of the stick. Yet maybe this is necessary considering the fragility
of the region, and the exploitation of certain areas therein.
From the very beginning, the Proposal states that the ordinance is designed to be an environmental planning and policy instrument. A management plan
implemented due to need, and a working program that will be kept current through the continuous work and involvement of all levels of government,
along with civil and sectoral interests. This plus regular reviews in order to make changes or adjustments when deemed necessary, and to enforce the
code and principles.
To theoretically insure a balance between environmental protection and productive activities, with the goal of a regional development vision based on
sustainability, a large Marine Ecological Ordinance of the Gulf of California Committee was formed, and work began on June 5, 2004.
According to the draft document, this two-part committee consists of an executive section and a technical division. A committee of the whole that
will govern and direct processes ?to institutionalize a plural participation mechanism in order to prevent and attend to environmental conflicts in
the region,? and thus ?legalize decision making around regional development,? the document states.
So work began, divided into four basic categories: characterization; diagnostic; prognosis; and proposal. And this last point called for the draft
Proposal now completed and under final review, ?the model of ecologic ordinance and ecological strategies.?
Information and concerns regarding each of the 22 UGC and UGO units are outlined in the Models chapter, whereas the recommendations and plans for not
only marine areas and insular properties, but too for adjacent coastal lands, are found in the Ecological Strategies chapter of the Proposal. Among
the items addressed, especially within the Ecological Strategies, are points and matters anyone interested in the Gulf of California, its coastal
environs, and its flora and fauna might want to review and maybe submit comments.
The Ecological Strategies are discussed in nine subtitles: regional trends; general sustainability actions; interaction between marine and coastal
environments; inter-sectoral; social participation; inter-cultural; follow-up process; precautionary focus; and research agenda.
Commercial fishing is a concern, as are aquaculture sites. It goes into coastal area land problems, especially agricultural runoff areas. And it
mentions energy exploration and exploitation.
The Proposal addresses tourism and land developments, plus urban growth problems in vulnerable locations. Among other things, marinas are a concern,
recreational boating (and commercial shipping) are worries, and it asserts pleasure activities such as sportfishing must be controlled.
